Leonidas e



(No Model.)

L. R. HOUCHENS.

GARBAGE REGEPTAGLB. No. 593,525, Patented Nov. 9,1897.

NiTED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEONIDAS R. HOUOHENS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

GARBAGE-RECEPTACLE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 593,525, dated November 9, 1897.

A li ti fil d March 3, 1897. Serial No. 625,847. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEONIDAS R. HoUoH- ENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington city, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garbage-Receptacles; and I do hereby declare the following to'be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has relation to improvements in vessels for holding refuse, such as garbage, wherein it is desirable to perfectly seal the receptacle to prevent the escape of offensive odors into the surrounding atmosphere.

The object of this invention is to provide a water seal for the class of vessels mentioned which shall not only be a perfect seal when the cover is in position on the vessel, but also provide means whereby the removal of the lid or its replacement on the vessel can be effected without causing the water which forms the seal to be forced or drawn into the body of the receptacle.

This invention therefore consists in the combination, with a garbage-receptacle and its cover, of a water seal and means for preventing the water from being forced into the receptacle.

The invention further consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts more fully described hereinafter, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the annexed drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved garbagereceptacle; Fig. 2, a top view of the same, and Fig. 3 a detailed sectional view.

A is the body of the receptacle, which is by preference made of heavy galvanized iron fluted at its upper edge.

B is the upper part of the receptacle, and consists of two rings 1) b, the outer ring I) being slightly larger in diameter at the top, so as to present a flaring opening. The inner ring 1), which is of smaller diameter, has its lower edge outwardly flanged, as at 0, so that when the two rings are soldered together there will be formed between them the annular Water- I tight trough D, its outer wall I) being slightly higher than its inner wall I).

An opening e in the bottom of the trough, with a spout e and stopple f, provides a means for allowing the water to escape from the trough when desired. The top of the receptacle consists of a circular sheet of metal G, having a depending circumferential flange g of sufficient depth to reach nearly to the bottom of the trough D. In the center of the top is an opening h, and beneath the opening 77. is attached a metal yoke with hole j in its center. A handle K, consisting of a handpiece lo a nut k, and a metallic plate Z and rubber or leather washer Z, serves as a means for moving the lid of the receptacle, and also asa closure for the opening h. The handle K has the metallic plate Z permanently attached to the rod 75* a short distance below the handpiece 70, and the rod k passes through the hole j in the yoke 2' and is held in position by the nut is, which is fastened to the rod a sufficient distance from the yoke 2', so as to permit the rod to have a slight vertical movement through the hole j. When it is desired to use the receptacle, the upper portion -A is placed in position on the body A and the trough D partially filled with water. The lid G is then placed in position and the depending flange g and the water in the trough form a perfect water seal for the receptacle. In removing the lid the handpiece k is grasped and raised. This movement first opens the valve in the center of the lid and allows the lid to be raised without sucking the water from the trough D into the recep tacle, which would be the case if there was not an opening in the lid, and in replacing the lid this opening acts in the same way to prevent the water from being forced into the receptacle. Another advantage of this valve is that if there should be an accumulation of gases in the vessel sufficient to raise the lid in the ordinary water-sealed receptacle the valve would be opened by the pressure of the gas and a sufficient amount of gas allowed to escape, so that the lid will not be raised and the water seal broken.

Imake the receptacle in two separate parts A and B, so that the washing of the two parts can be more readily accomplished, for if these two parts were soldered together it would be very difficult if not impossible to thoroughly scour the same, and as the lower portion of IOC with a can, of a lid, G, having a central vent-1 opening, a valve Z, which normally rests upon the lid and closes the Vent-opening, ahandle K, having a stem j, to which said valve is attached, a nut or shoulder 70, on the lower end of said valve-stem, a yoke 2', through which said valve-stem loosely passes, and against which said nut or shoulder 70, abuts when the handle K- is raised, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a garbage-receptacle, the combination with the body portion A, and a top portion B,

having a water-trough D, of a cover G, provided with a valve and a handle attached thereto, whereby said valve is opened by the lifting of the handle in raising the cover, substantially as described.

3. In a garbage-receptacle,the combination, with the body of the receptacle, of a cover and valve device and handle, substantially as shown, whereby the valve will be automatically opened by the lifting of the handle of the cover and held in an open position till the cover is lowered. v

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEONIDAS R. I-IOUOHENS.

Witnesses:

ANTHONY A. GoNNoLLY, BERNARD R. KELLY. 

